The 107 meter high (351 ft) gold gilded baroque dome that sits on top of the Hotel des Invalides' Royal Chapel is easily recognisable on the Parisian skyline and acts as a beacon to one of Paris' major attractions -'Napoleon's Tomb'.

The former 'Royal Chapel' is now a mausoleum and it's here Napoleon Bonaparte's remains were interned in 1861.

Napoleon had actually died on the island of St Helena on May 5th 1821 where he had been in exile since 1815. He remained buried there until October 15th 1840 when his remains were exhumed and brought to Paris, under the instructions of Louis-Philippe. He had demanded that the
emperor should be returned to French soil.

A state funeral was held and his remains were temporarily laid to rest in St Jerome's Chapel. They were moved here in 1861 when the modifications to a mausoleum were completed.

The mausoleum also contains the tombs of some of Napoleon's family, as well as other French military leaders and war heroes.

Looking up under the ornate dome.

Napoleon's sarcophagus is directly under the dome and sits one level below the main floor. It can be viewed from both levels.

There is a statue, rather larger than life, representing Napoleon as a Roman emperor overlooking his resting place.

Tip:

Visit the nearby Musée Rodin if you are only wishing to vistt the tomb of Napoleon without visiting the
Military Museum.